Vegetable cutter



2 Sheets Sheet l VEGETABLE CUTTER Filed May 3, 1940 June 17, 1.941.

A OrneyS June 17, 1941. N. D. HYLAND VEGETABLE CUTTER Filed May 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 omeys Patented June i7, 1941 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE- VEGETABLE CUTTER Norman Denis Hyland, Mobile, Ala.

Application May 3, 1940, Serial No. 333,217

(Cl. 14S- 78) 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for cutting vegetables, particularly potatoes, and has for one `of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel combination and arrangement for expeditiously slicing and, if desired, dicing a large number of potatoes or other vegetables in a thoroughly efficient, sanitary manner.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a vegetable cutter of the type comprising a knife unit including a plurality of crossed blades, novel means for mounting different knife units on the device whereby the cross sectional size of the slices may be Varied as desired.

Still another important objectv of theinvention is to provide a vegetable cutter of the character described which is adapted to be conveniently mounted on a tub or other receptacle when desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a vegetable cutter which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eiiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a vegetable cutter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the device, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in top plan,

showing the intermediate portion of the base Y at an acute angle from one end of the base I is an integral ange 2. Also depending from the base i, in spaced parallelism to the flange v2, is a comparatively long brace 3. A thumb screw 4 is threadedl through the flange, 2 and has swivelly mounted on its ,forward end an offcenter, arcuate foot 5 for coaction withrthe brace 3 for removably mounting the base I on the upper edge of a tub or other receptacle in a manner to project thereover.

The base I has formed therein, at an intermediate point, an opening G. Portions of the metal which .is removed from the base I when forming thel opening 6 are bent downwardly in a manner to provide depending guides 'I having inturned flanges `8 on their lower edges. The guides I are adapted to slidably receive and support therebetween a removable knife unit which isl designated generally by the reference numeral 9. The unit 9 comprises a metallic frame I having mounted therein a plurality of crossed blades II. A set screw I2 in one of the guides 'l releasably secures the knife unit 9 in position. It will be observed that the knife unit 9, when in position, is located beneath the opening 6 in the base I.

Mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane beneath the unit 9 is a double edge dicing blade I3. The blade I3 has one end pivotally mounted on one of the guides 'I in any suitable manner, as at I4. Depending from the free end portion of the blade I3 is an operating handle I5.

Rising from the forward end portion of the base I is a post or bracket I6. The reference numeral I'I designates a hand lever having one end portion pivotally secured to the upper portion of the post or bracket I6. The lever I'I includes on its free end a downwardly offset handle I8.

Rising from the base I, at the corners of the opening 6, are angle iron guides I9. Races 20 extend between the upper end portions of the guides I9. Mounted for vertical sliding movement in the guides I9 is a plunger 2|. A rod 22 connects the plunger 2I to the lever II for actuation thereby. The plunger 2I includes a plurality of depending projections 23 which are adapted to force the potato or other vegetable downwardly past the blades II of the knife unit 9.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briey, the plunger 2I is ele- Vated through the medium of the lever I1 to permit the vegetable to be placed therebeneath on the unit 9. The plunger 2I is then moved downwardly for forcing the vegetable through the unit 9 the blades II of which cut said vegetable into strips or slices of uniform cross sectional size. 'Ihe projections 23 of the plunger 2I are adapted to follow the Vegetable through the unit 9. If dicing is desired, the vegetable is forced through the unit 9 until the desired portions or lengths of the slices depend therefrom. The blade I3 is then actuated for cutting olf the depending portions of the slices. The plunger 2| is then lowered again for forcing more of the vegetable through the unit 9 and the blade I3 is again brought into operation. One of the guides I9 is graduated, as at 24, to facilitate moving the plunger 2I the desired distance when dicing. By loosening the set screw I2 one unit 9 may be expeditiously removed from the device and another substituted therefor. Thus, different sizes of slices may be had. Of course, it is essential that the blades II be spaced sufficiently far apart to accommodate the projections 23 of the plunger 2I.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, it will be seen that the reference numeral 25 designates a plate-like liever or member having one end pivotally connected to the corresponding end of the base I, as at 26. The free end portion of the member 25 is formed to provide a handlel 26. Mounted beneath an intermediate portion of the member 25 is a plunger 28 which is substantially similar in construction and operation to the plunger 2 I, said plunger 28 including depending projections 29.

In operation, the member 25 is swung upwardly through the medium of the handle 21, thus elevating or raising the plunger 28. The member 25 is then swung downwardly for forcing the potato or other vegetable, which has been placed on the knife unit 9, downwardly through the blades of said unit.

It is believed that the many advantages of a vegetable cutter constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although. preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the knife unit 9 may, if desired, be mounted on top of the base I over the opening 6 in said base.

What is claimed is:

A vegetable slicing and dicing device, an elongated base plate having a substantially rectangular shaped opening located intermediate the ends thereof, means for mounting said plate horizontally over an open receptacle, integrally connected vertical depending guide plates formed onfsaid base plate about said opening, inwardly directed anges formed on lower edges of the guide plates, a knife unit for slicing vegetables positioned within the guide plates and resting on said flanges, means on one of said guide plates to releasably secure the knife unit on the flanges and within said guide plates, vertical channel iron guide members secured to and rising from the base plate at the corners of the opening, braces connecting the upper ends of said guide members, a reciprocal plunger operating in the guide members to force vegetables through the knife unit, and a cutting blade having one end pivoted on one of the flanges for manual pivotal movement over the other flanges to dice the vegetables after being sliced and forced outwardly ofthe knife unit and having the other end thereof angularly disposed to provide a hand grip.

NORMAN DENIS HYLAND. 

